UEFA show no mercy to United, Barcelona

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UEFA are rarely willing to overturn refereeing decisions and so it proved on Monday, with the Control and Disciplinary body rejecting appeals from Manchester United and Barcelona over Darren Fletcher, Eric Abidal and Daniel Alves:

UEFA, announcing the decision on Monday, said in a statement that the two clubs had failed to get their appeals in on time, but even if they had made the deadline they would have been rejected.

“There were no grounds for contesting the referees’ original decisions,” the statement said.

All three players will serve one-match bans during the final in Rome on May 27, although UEFA added the clubs would have three days in which to lodge appeals against Monday’s decision.

I’d say Barcelona will be hardest hit by the decisions. United can play Scholes in place of Fletcher but Barca have no one of the quality of Alves to play in his place.

What do you think?

PHOTO: Darren Fletcher of Manchester United leaves the pitch after being shown the red card during his team’s Champions League second leg semi-final soccer match against Arsenal at the Emirates stadium in London May 5, 2009. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

As a Manchester United fan, I was personally glad the appeal went the way it did, as I agree that Barcelona stands to lose more from their suspensions than MU do. MU has ample cover for Fletcher in midfield, while Barça has to travel to Rome with what are at best second-choice full-backs.